Archive for the 'The Whole Truth' Tag Under 'The Watcher' Category

We knew that having three legal shows going head-to-head-to-head on Wednesday nights couldn't last very long, and it didn't.

ABC will pull the plug on "The Whole Truth," which will stop filming after 13 episodes. When the Rob Morrow/Maura Tierney series leaves the air is undetermined. It is on the schedule for the time being, although it will be pre-empted at least twice during the November ratings sweeps.

While CBS's "The Defenders" and NBC's "Law & Order: Los Angeles" have battled to a ratings draw in the 10 p.m. Wednesday slot, "The Whole Truth" has lagged behind.

That might be the last cancellation for awhile, unless the CW gets up the gumption to ax "Life Unexpected," which has garnered good reviews but tragically few viewers in its second season.

CBS has given all of its new series full-season orders. Even though none of them is a hit, none is really a failure, either.

Capsules of the 10 (!) new shows we digested Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

The grades: A-Record it! B-Worth a look C-Take it or leave it D-Skip it F-Offensively bad

"Detroit 1-8-7" (ABC) - Easily the best new series so far this fall. This is a taut, believable police drama with interesting characters, headed by "The Sopranos" alumnus Michael Imperioli. The final scene of the pilot was over-the-top and unnecessary, but that is my only complaint. A-

"The Defenders" (CBS) - A pleasant surprise. The wackiness of the central characters played by Jerry O'Connell and Jim Belushi and the overall humorous varnish works without getting in the way of the otherwise by-the-numbers legal series. B

"Outsourced" (NBC) - I expected this to be either great or terrible, so I was surprised to find this gentle, enjoyable but not laugh-out-loud comedy. Still, the premise about an American sent to run a call center in India, feels more like a movie than a series. I hope I'm wrong. B

Tonight's network lineup features a much-anticipated reunion of "Friends" cast members and a considerably less anticipated showdown between two new lawyer shows.

Jennifer Aniston visits Courteney Cox on the season premiere of "Cougar Town" on ABC. It's not exactly the full-fledged reunion that "Friends" fanatics have craved, but it should give the ABC comedy lineup a little boost. ABC's evening begins with "The Middle." The new comedy "Better With You" gets sandwiched in before Emmy-winning "Modern Family" and the almost rennamed "Cougar Town."

At 10, ABC throws out its new legal series "The Whole Truth," starring Rob Morrow and Maura Tierney. It faces off against the less-serious CBS offering, "The Defenders," starring Jim Belushi and Jerry O'Connell. Next week, NBC's new "Law & Order: Los Angeles" will make it a threesome.

But tonight, "Law & Order: Special Victims" will kick of season 12 with a two-hour episode. The new spy series "Undercovers" precedes "L&O:SVU."